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Category: Fr. Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Faith That Shows Up

    Faith That Shows Up

    January 5, 2025 – Monday after Epiphany; Memorial of St. John Neumann, CSsR

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010526.cfm)

    When a community faces a problem like sickness, conflict, calamities or poverty, we find it necessary to ask for help. And so, we look for someone we can trust, someone who will not just talk, but will actually show up and do something. Thus, we value presence and value people who serve quietly, without drawing attention to themselves. This simple experience opens our hearts to the message of today’s readings and of the life of Saint John Neumann, a Redemptorist Bishop in the United States, whose feast we celebrate today.

    The Word of God today invites us to live our Christian faith that is true, discerning, and expressed in concrete service.

    In the first reading from the First Letter of John, we hear a strong reminder that our relationship with God is not only about words or feelings. When our hearts are aligned with God’s will, there is confidence and peace within us. But Saint John also warns us that not every spirit comes from God. Not every voice that sounds religious or inspiring is truly leading us to Christ. That is why discernment is important and necessary. The test is clear and simple, we can ask, “Does it confess Jesus Christ, truly God who came among us?”

    Remember, true faith always leads us closer to Christ and to love our neighbor expressed in concrete actions.

    Now, this message is very relevant to us today. We live in a time when many voices compete for our attention. There are all sorts of teachings in the social media, as well as opinions, and trends that promise happiness and success, but can also slowly pull us away from prayer, from the Church, and from compassion for others. Saint John reminds us that real faith produces real love, and real love is shown through obedience and service.

    The Gospel continues this invitation. Jesus begins His ministry by proclaiming repentance and by bringing healing. He does not stay in one place. He goes from town to town, teaching, curing the sick, and restoring hope. People follow Him not only because of His words, but because they experience God’s mercy through Him. Jesus reveals a God who is not distant, but close to human suffering.

    This is where the life of Saint John Neumann becomes a living Gospel for us. He was a Redemptorist priest who left his homeland to serve immigrants in America. He became a bishop not for honor, but for mission. Despite being physically weak and often misunderstood, he worked tirelessly. He gave his life and ministry in building schools, organizing parishes, visiting the poor, and strengthening the faith of ordinary people. He lived simply, prayed deeply, and served generously. He did not seek recognition. He only wanted people to know Christ and experience God’s love.

    Saint John Neumann teaches us that holiness is not about doing extraordinary things, but about doing ordinary things with great love and faithfulness. His life shows us what it means to discern rightly and to respond generously to God’s call.

    As Christians today, we are invited to live the same spirit. Faith must not remain inside the church. It must be carried into our homes, workplaces, and communities. As Jesus calls us, we are to bring healing. Like Saint John Neumann, we are called to serve quietly, faithfully, and consistently.

    So as we honor Saint John Neumann today, receive these two simple invitations.

    First, examine the voices you listen to. This means that you choose what leads you closer to Christ, to prayer, and to the love of neighbors.

    Second, commit one concrete act of service this week. Do it quietly and sincerely, trusting that God works powerfully through humble hearts. Hinaut pa.

  • Following the Star That Truly Matters

    Following the Star That Truly Matters

    January 4, 2025 – Epiphany of the Lord

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010426.cfm)

    What is it that drives you these days? What keeps you awake at night, and what makes you get up each morning and continue? Many of us could also be searching for someone, for something, or for a situation that we hope will finally make us happy. We look for contentment that will quite down our restlessness, for success that will ease our worries, or for love that will fill the emptiness we sometimes carry in silence. This search is very human. It is also very real.

    Each of us, in one way or another, is indeed on a journey. We take risks for what we hope will give meaning to our lives. We leave familiar places, sacrifice time with family, work long hours, and invest our energy in relationships and dreams. But we also know that every journey has its trials. We face failures, disappointments, wrong turns, and moments of deep uncertainty.

    This is where today’s feast, the Epiphany of the Lord, gently meets and calls us. Epiphany means manifestation because God makes Himself known to us. The Gospel tells us of the Magi or wise men, seekers, who followed a star. They were not kings in the political sense. They were probably scholars, observers of the heavens, men who knew how to read signs. They had a common desire and that was to find the truth behind the light they had seen. That star was not only a guide, it was also an invitation for them to behold and to encounter.

    They risked the long road, crossed unfamiliar territories, and faced uncertainty. And yes, they asked questions. They even made mistakes, stopping first at the palace of Herod, assuming that a king must be found among the powerful. Yet, in the end, the journey led them not to a throne but to a child.

    Isaiah speaks of this moment, “Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come.” Thus, the light of God is not meant for one people alone. It is meant to draw all nations towards the glory of God.

    Psalm 72 echoes this hope that justice and peace may flourish and that rulers may serve, not oppress. And Saint Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, reminds us that this mystery has now been revealed for in Christ, all are included, all are invited, all are heirs.

    This makes us realize that the heart of Epiphany is not really the Magi. The Epiphany is not about the Three Kings. It is the Epiphany of the child Jesus they have encountered.

    Hence, God chooses to reveal Himself not in strength but in vulnerability of a baby. Not in wealth but in poverty and simplicity. Not in the center of power but in a simple home, with Mary and Joseph, in a place easily overlooked by many. This is the great surprise of God.

    Yet, this was also the reason why Herod was troubled. He was shaken not by an army, not by a rebellion, but by a baby. Remember, power that is built on fear always feels threatened by truth and compassion. Corruption always trembles before humility and honesty. Herod represented all forms of leadership that cling to control and self-preservation. Jesus, even as an infant, already exposed this kind of power.

    For us Filipinos in 2026, this feast also speaks clearly to us. Many families continue to struggle with rising prices, unstable work, and the painful choice of leaving loved ones behind to work abroad. Our young people are searching for direction in a noisy digital world, often pressured to succeed quickly, to look perfect, and to keep up. We also face fatigue from political disappointments, from social divisions, from disasters that test our resilience again and again. In all this, we too are searching for a star.

    Yet, Epiphany reminds us that God is not absent from these struggles. However, we must learn where to look. God may not be found where influence is loud or where promises are grand. God is often revealed in the quiet faith of ordinary families, in honest work done with integrity, in compassion shown to the weak, and in courage that refuses to be silent before injustice.

    Let us remember that the Magi were wise not simply because they searched and were knowledgeable, but because they discerned. They listened. They allowed themselves to be led, even when the path was unclear. And when they found the child, they offered their gifts. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh were not random. They were acts of recognition and surrender.

    Gold was offered because Jesus is a true king. Frankincense was offered because  Jesus is a priest and divine. And Myrrh, an embalming oil, was offered because as a prophet and savior, Jesus will suffer and die.

    Today, the Lord also invites us to do the same. To seek Him above all. To discern where He is truly present. And to offer not just things, but our lives.

    Hence, I leave you now your three takeaways for this week.

    First. Choose your star carefully. Ask yourself honestly, “What is guiding my decisions right now? Success alone? Fear? Approval? Or the quiet call of God that leads to truth and life?”

    Second. Look for God where He usually hides. Pay attention to the poor, the weak, the unnoticed. God often reveals Himself there, and He waits for us to respond with humility and compassion.

    Third. Pray with openness and courage. Set aside time each day to speak honestly with the Lord. Ask for discernment. Ask for light. And ask for the grace to follow, even when the road leads somewhere unexpected.

    May this Epiphany help us follow the star that truly matters and may it always lead us to Christ. Hinaut pa.

  • Mary With Us isHope That Moves Us Forward

    Mary With Us isHope That Moves Us Forward

    January 1, 2026 – Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, New Year’s Eve Mass

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010126.cfm)

    As we have gathered together on this New Year’s Eve, with hearts brimming with gratitude for the year gone by and excitedly anticipating the year that is about to dawn, we pause to reflect not only on our blessings but also on the realities that surround us as a people. There are at least two pressing realities that I invite you to also recognize.

    First, for many Filipino families, this past year has been one of perseverance. Many worked harder yet still felt the squeeze of rising prices, while others waited anxiously for better opportunities. However, according to international research and analysis agencies, the Philippine economy is expected to grow, but at a slower pace than hoped, below our government targets until 2026.[1] Thus, it brings pressures on jobs, investment, and public confidence in institutions.

    Second, our nation continues to grapple with the harsh realities of climate change. 97% of Filipino children live in areas exposed to multiple hazards like typhoons, floods, heatwaves, and droughts.[2] These harsh realities affect their schooling, health, and safety. These are not distant challenges because they touch our communities, our children, and very our lives.

    Tonight, as we gather in prayer and hope, the Holy Spirit invites us to look beyond statistics and crises, to hear once again the Word of God, and to awaken in us a deeper courage.

    My reflection tonight on the eve of 2026 draws its strength from one profound truth that God is with us, and in Mary, the Mother of God and our Mother, we find a model of hope that moves us forward.

    And so, as a people of faith, let us also explore the Lord’s invitations for us through the Scriptures, woven together into a tapestry of promise, blessing, and identity.

    In the first reading from the Book of Numbers, God instructs Moses to bless the people: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you… and give you peace.” This ancient blessing was not a ritual word of comfort alone but a declaration of God’s steadfast presence with His people, regardless of what they faced. Indeed, God’s blessing comes before our success, before our achievements, before the turning of the calendar. This means that God’s blessing precedes us. It reminds us also that our identity is rooted not in worldly measures but in divine favor and care.

    This echoes in the Responsorial Psalm: “May God bless us in his mercy… Let the nations be glad and sing for joy.” Here, blessing is not exclusive. Rather, it is generous and meant for all peoples. Even as we confront uncertainties, whether in the marketplace, the environment, or our families and communities, God’s mercy draws us into a communion of hope that stretches beyond our individual lives into the life of our community.

    Moreover, St. Paul, in his Letter to the Galatians, brings this mystery into sharper focus. Paul writes, “When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son… so that we might receive adoption as sons and daughters.” Because of Jesus, we are not distant observers but children of God. Thus, we have the right to call God, Abba, Father. This adoption is not theoretical. Instead, it affects how we live, how we hope, how we act with courage even when circumstances are intimidating and very challenging for us. This gives us the confidence that God is indeed, our Father.

    And then we come to the Gospel of Luke.The shepherds went with haste to see the Child lying in a manger. They saw, they encountered, and they returned glorifying and praising God. But there is one figure who stands at the center. It was Mary. Scripture says, Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.

    What does this reflection mean for us tonight, as we welcome the New Year 2026?

    Friends, remember, Mary did not wait for perfect conditions. Mary, our Mother, did not wait for clarity before saying “yes” to God. She lived the divine promise in the middle of uncertainties. We find that in the difficult journey to Bethlehem, in the simplicity of a stable, in the risk of becoming a refugee in Egypt, and the uncertainty of a future she could not fully understand. And yet, she kept these things in her heart. This is a heart rooted in prayer, trust, and unwavering faith.

    Indeed, Mary witnessed the fulfillment of God’s promise, held it close, and allowed it to shape her life. From her womb came the Savior and from her life comes a model of faithful discipleship for every Filipino mother, father, youth, and elder.

    From all of these, this reminds us and calls us to truly hope! And this hope that moves us forward flows from a heart that trusts in God’s presence and blessing, just as Mary trusted and hoped. Thus, it is a hope that does not deny challenges but faces them with faith, courage, and love.

    Definitely, many will face challenges in 2026. We have an economy that grows more slowly than we hoped, pressures on jobs and investment, unaccounted government funds being squandered by corrupt officials, and the intensifying realities of climate change that affect our children and communities. These challenges are real, but God’s blessing is real too, and Mary shows us how to carry it forward.

    We realize that, in fact, Mary is not a distant figure because as a Mother of God, she is also our Mother. As a mother, Mary is present with us, guiding us, and interceding for us. At Cana, she brought the needs of others to Jesus. At the foot of the cross, she stood in solidarity with suffering humanity. In her faith-filled yes, she teaches us that to hope is to act. This means that we too have to look at reality not through the lens of fear and insecurity or merely on being optimistic, but through the gaze of faith.

    And so, as we usher in the year 2026, may our hearts be like Mary that is open to God’s blessing, reflective in prayer, and courageous in action.

    In this spirit of hope, let me leave you with three simple but powerful takeaways, practical actions that will help us live this year rooted in faith.

    First. Begin and end each day with a moment of gratitude and prayer, inviting God into every challenge whether big or small.

    Second. Act justly in your daily life. You can do this by choosing to help a neighbor, supporting the vulnerable, protecting creation, and speaking truth with compassion.

    Third. Stay anchored in community. We are called to build ties of kindness, forgiveness, and service in your family and our neighborhood.

    May Mary, the Mother of God, intercede for us that we may live this new year with hearts full of hope, eyes fixed on Christ, and hands ready to serve. Hinaut pa.

    [1] https://www.philstar.com/business/2025/11/25/2489603/economy-slow-down-until-2026

    [2] https://www.bworldonline.com/economy/2025/11/24/714334/children-in-phl-facing-elevated-risk-from-climate-change-report/

  • Holding on to the Light

    Holding on to the Light

    December 31, 2025 – Wednesday, 7th Day in the Octave of Christmas

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/123125.cfm)

    As this year comes to its final hours, many of us may be standing quietly between gratitude and uncertainty. Others are thankful that they survived another year filled with challenges. Others feel tired, wounded, or unsure of what lies ahead. Surveys and conversations tell us the same story that many people enter the new year carrying fear. There is the fear of instability, fear of failure, fear that things may not change for the better. In fact in the recent year-end survey by PAHAYAG, it showed that 58% of Filipino voters are pessimistic of the coming new year 2026.[1]

    Yet, on this final day of the year 2025, the Church does not ignore these feelings. Instead, our liturgy on this last day of the year gently places before us the Word of God and asks us a deeper question. The question is, “In a world full of confusion and shifting voices, what truth will we hold on to as we begin a new year 2026?”

    The first reading from the First Letter of John speaks with honesty and urgency. John tells the community that many voices have appeared, voices that confuse, divide, and lead people away from the truth. He speaks of those who left the community because they no longer remained rooted in what they had received from the beginning.

    This is not just about false teachers long ago. It speaks to our present situation. Today, we are surrounded by many voices. We have the social media, opinions, ideologies, promises of quick solutions, propaganda filled with disinformation. And we realize that not all of them lead to life. Not all of them speak truth. Others even hide and bury the truth with their own narratives in order to advance their own political agenda at the expense of the powerless in our community and the common good.

    John reminds us of something essential that we have been anointed by the Holy One, and we know the truth. This truth is not merely information. It is, rather, a relationship. It is the truth that we belong to God, and that God remains faithful even when the world feels unstable. As we close the year, this reminder matters because what we cling to shapes who we become.

    Now, the Gospel brings us back to the beginning. “In the beginning was the Word,” John tells us.  These words are familiar, but today they sound different. As one year ends and another begins, the Gospel tells us that before our plans, before our fears, before our successes and failures, the Word already existed. And this Word did not remain distant from us. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

    This is the heart of our faith and of what we celebrate in the Season of Christmas. God chose not to watch humanity from afar. God entered our history, our struggles, and our darkness. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. This is not a poetic line meant only for Christmas morning. It is a promise meant for moments like when we stand at the edge of a new year or unsure of what awaits us.

    Indeed, as Filipinos, we have seen families strained by hardship, young people discouraged by uncertainty, communities wounded by division and dishonesty. We have also seen how easy it is to grow numb, to lose hope, or to settle for half-truths that make life more convenient. But today, the Gospel gently but firmly calls us back to the light.

    Hence, as we enter a new year, we are called to remain in the truth by choosing to walk in the light of Christ. Remaining is not passive. It is a daily decision. It means refusing to let fear define us. It also means not allowing lies, hatred, or indifference to shape our hearts.

    This means as well that John’s warning is also an invitation. If there are voices we have followed that have made us more bitter, more divided, or less compassionate, this is the moment to let them go. If there are habits we have carried this year that dimmed our conscience, this is the moment to leave them behind. The new year does not begin with fireworks alone. It begins with clarity of heart and of our mind.

    The Word became flesh so that truth would no longer be abstract. Truth now has a face, the face of Jesus. Truth now has a way of living through love, honesty, humility, and courage. When we choose these, we walk in the light of Christ.

    As we prepare to cross into a new year, may we do so not with loud promises, but with quiet resolve. Let us carry with us what truly lasts. The light has already come and the question now is whether we will walk by it.

    May Christ, the Word made flesh, be the truth we hold on to, the light we follow, and the hope that leads us forward into the year ahead. Hinaut pa.

    [1] https://www.bworldonline.com/the-nation/2025/12/29/721544/nearly-60-pessimistic-about-2026-survey/

  • Maturing in faith through time

    Maturing in faith through time

    December 30, 2025 – Tuesday, 6th Day in the Octave of Christmas

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/123025.cfm)

    As the days of Christmas pass, the noise slowly fades. The lights remain, but the excitement becomes quieter as most of you might have observed. Yet, it invites us to notice something important that Christmas is not meant to rush us, but to deepen us.

    The Church, on this 6th Day of the Octave of Christmas, gently reminds us to slow down. We should ask ourselves what kind of people we are becoming. This reflection calls for our growth not only in age, but in faith, wisdom, and love. As Christ was born for us, Christmas calls us now how our hearts should be formed over time to recognize what truly lasts.

    This is why the Gospel today brings us to Anna, the prophetess, a woman whose life had been quietly shaped by years of faithfulness. She did not rush through life, and she did not allow loss or loneliness to harden her heart. Her many years in the temple were not empty waiting but faithful presence before God. And so, when the child Jesus was brought to the temple, Anna immediately recognized Him. While others may have seen only an ordinary child, she saw hope being fulfilled. Her long journey of trust had trained her heart to see what truly mattered.

    Anna showed us that faith deepens when we stay rooted, grounded. She waited long, but her waiting did not turn into bitterness. Her years did not make her cynical. Instead, they sharpened her vision and her spirit more attuned to God’s coming presence. Thus, she could see hope because she had learned how to trust God through many seasons of loss and silence.

    Moreover, the first reading from the First Letter of John speaks to different stages of life. John addresses children, young people, and fathers. He recognizes that faith looks different at each stage of our life. Children know forgiveness. Young people are strong and have overcome evil. Elders know God deeply because they have walked with Him for a long time.

    However, John also gives us a serious warning. He said, “Do not love the world or the things of the world.” He is not saying that the world is bad. John, rather, reminds us not to build our lives on what does not last such as power, pleasure, possessions, and pride. Though these things promise satisfaction, but they fade quickly and leave hearts empty.

    Hence, this message is very relevant today. We live in a time when many are pressured to prove their worth through success, appearance, or status. Even during Christmas, many could have felt that pressure to have the best food, the nicest gifts, or the happiest photos we can post of our social media platforms. Yet Anna’s life quietly tells us another truth that certainly, a meaningful life is not measured by what we accumulate or show of to others, but by who we become.

    Hence, true maturity in faith is learning to long and desire what lasts. Anna desired God above all else. That is why, when salvation stood before her, she recognized it.

    For us today, this is an invitation to examine our hearts. We ask ourselves. What are we holding on to? What consumes our energy and attention? Are we forming our children only to succeed, or also to love and serve? Are we using our strength as young adults only for ourselves, or also for what is good and just? Are we allowing our elders to be teachers of wisdom, or have we forgotten to listen to them?

    Remember, Anna did not keep the good news to herself. She spoke about the child to others. Faith that matures always becomes generous. It shares hope.

    As Christmas continues, we are reminded that Christ is still growing among us. And like Anna, we are called not only to see Him, but to point Him out to others through our lives shaped by patience, simplicity, and trust.

    May this Christmas season teach us not just to celebrate, but to mature in love, so that when Christ passes by our lives, we will recognize Him and rejoice. Hinaut pa.